Apparatus for packing bottles, jars or like into cases

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to apparatus for packing bottles, jars or like open-ended containers into a case by transferring said bottles or the like from a conveyor delivering the articles to a pick-up station to a packing case situated on a discharge conveyor at a loading station. The invention broadly comprises an arm pivotal through a full circle in two separate movements each of 180* whereby a bottle carrier head on each end of the arm may be stopped successively at said pick-up and loading stations to collect, transfer and deposit the bottles or the like carried on each head. Each bottle carrier head comprises a frame which is additionally movable in a vertical plane whereby bottles etc. carried thereon may be raised or lowered and whereby inflatible inserts mounted on the underside of each head may be inserted into and/or withdrawn from the open neck portion of bottles, jars or like articles. The inserts are inflated by air pressure after insertion in the neck portions of the bottles or the like whereby the walls of the inserts grip firmly the inside neck portions thus providing a carrying member for the bottles or the like. When the bottles or the like are lowered into a packing case at the loading station the inserts on the carrier head at that station are evacuated to release the bottles whilst the inserts on the carrier head on the other end of the pivotal arm, i.e. at the pick-up station, are inflated to grip the bottles.

[451 Dec. 25, 1973 APPARATUS FOR PACKING BOTTLES,

JARS OR LIKE INTO CASES Henry Morgan Corderoy, Gladesville, New SouthWale Australia [73] Assignee: ACI Operations Pty. Limited,

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 221 Filed: Feb. 2, 1972 21Appl.No.:222,794

[75] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 5, 1971 Australia 3950 [52]US. Cl 53/247, 53/61, 53/159,

' 53/166, 294/87 R, 294/93 7 [51] Int. Cl. B65b 39/02 [58] Field ofSearch 53/61, 159, 247, 53/166; 294/87 R, 93,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,410,050 11/1968 Bell 153/247 X 3,327,450 6/1967 Carter i 53/247 X 3,144,148 8/1964 Merkner eta1... 294/93 3,462,934 8/1969 Schulz et al. 294/93 X PrimaryExaminer-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-W. D. Bray Att0rneyLaurenceR. Hefter [57 ABSTRACT I This invention relates to apparatus for packingbottles, jars or like open-ended containers into a case by transferringsaid bottles or the like from a conveyor delivering the articles to apick-up station to a packing case situated on a discharge conveyor at aloading station.

The invention broadly comprises an arm pivotal through a full circle intwo separate movements each of 180 whereby a bottle carrier head on eachend of the arm may be stopped successively at said pick-up and loadingstations to collect, transfer and deposit the bottles or the likecarried on each head.

Each bottle carrier head comprises a frame which is additionally movablein a vertical plane whereby bottles etc. carried thereon may be raisedor lowered and whereby inflatible inserts mounted on the underside ofeach head may be inserted into and/or withdrawn from the open neckportion of bottles, jars or like articles. The inserts are inflated byair pressure after insertion in the neck portions of the bottles or thelike whereby the walls of the inserts grip firmly the inside neckportions thus providing a carrying member for the bottles or the like.When the bottles or the like are lowered into a packing case at theloading station the inserts on the carrier head at that station areevacuated to release the bottles whilst the inserts on the carrier headon the other end of the pivotal arm, i.e. at the pick-up station, areinflated to grip the bottles.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR PACKING BOTTLES, JARS OR LIKEINTO CASES This invention relates to case packing apparatus and refersmore particularly to apparatus for packing jars, bottles or likecontainers in cases or cartons.

Hitherto, it has been the usual practice to load bottles and jars or thelike into cardboard cartons manually and it is accordingly an object ofthe present invention to provide apparatus which will automatically packthese articles into cartons. Reference to bottles in this specificationis to be understood to include jars and other open top containers ofsimilar kind.

According to one broad form of the invention an apparatus for packingbottles, into cases comprises pivotal arm means for transferring saidbottles from a pick-up station to a case loading station said arm meanshaving a carrier head at or near each end thereof, each said head havinga plurality of inflatible inserts adapted to engage the inside neckportion of bottles and means associated with each insert for inflatingand/or deflating it in timed relationship with the operation ofpicking-up said bottles from said pick-up station and depositing them atsaid case loading station.

The invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription of one embodiment which may be preferred and whereinreference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of packing apparatus according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and,

FIG. 3 is sectional elevation (enlarged) taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2and showing a typical inflatible insert according to the invention.

As illustrated in the drawings, an apparatus for packing bottles intocases, comprises an arm pivotal about a vertical axis 11 through 360 intwo movements each of l80. Mounted on each end of the pivotal arm 10 isa carrier head 12 comprising a frame 13 having a plurality of inflatibleinserts 14 mounted on the underside thereof and an air connection 15 toeach of said inserts whereby they may be inflated or evacuated dependingupon whether they are to pick-up or deposit a bottle 16. Each insert 14is preferably made of rubber and is substantially the same or slightlysmaller diameter than the internal diameter of the neck 17 or opening ofthe bottle 16- to be loaded. The inserts 14 are substantially balloonshaped, being open at the top 18 to communicate with the air supply. Thetop of each insert is flared outwardly to provide a collar or flange 19which is engaged by a retaining ring 20 and held in sealing engagementwith the end face 21 of an air connecting member 15 permitting the airpassage to communicate with the interior of said insert 14.Specifically, each insert comprises a reduced diameter portion 18Acontiguous with an enlarged diameter article engaging surface 22. Allinserts 14 are of the same construction and dimension at the top thereofto permit interchangeable connection but the diameter of the articleengaging surface 22 may be varied according to the size and type ofarticle to be packed.

Each insert is coupled via its air connection 15 into a common airsupply and a control valve (not shown) determines whether the inserts oneach carrier head are to be inflated or deflated as will be hereinafterdescribed.

The pivotal arm 10 is supported centrally on a vertical pillar l1 and aspreviously indicated is rotatable through a full circle in two movementseach of The vertical pillar l l is mounted between a pair of horizontalconveyors 23, 24 arranged in spaced parallel relationship, one of saidconveyors 23 being a feed conveyor, delivering articles to a pick-upstation A beneath one of the STOP positions of the pivotal arm 10 andthe other being a despatch conveyor 24, taking loaded cases from a casefilling station 8 beneath the other end of the pivotal arm 10. Thecarrier heads 13 on the ends of the arm 10 may be lowered to a pick-upor deposit position, lowering being effected by means of a verticalpiston 25 in a cylinder 26 on each end of the arm 10, the carrier heads13 being attached to the lower or free ends of the pistons 25. Thepistons 25 and cylinders 26 are preferably actuated in unison so as tobe raised and lowered together. The height of the pivotal arm 10 abovethe conveyors 23, 24 may be adjusted by raising or lowering the verticalpillar 11.

In operation, inserts 14, of a diameter approximating the diameter ofthe neck 17 of the bottles 16 to be packed are attached to the carrierhead 13 at each end of the pivotal arm 10. The number of inserts isdependent upon the number of articles to be packed into a case 27 andmay be up to about 24. Bottles are assembled on the feed or groupingconveyor 23 and are delivered by the conveyor in columns androws to thepickup station A. During this movement, the operator assembles a case 27to be filled and places it on a frame 28 immediately beneath the carrierhead 13 and above the discharge roll-conveyor 24. This frame 28 ismounted on the top end of a vertically operable piston 29 and is adaptedto move through the discharge rollconveyor 24 in response to actuationof a control switch.

The carrier heads 13 are lowered by their respective pistons 25 inresponse to the case being placed on the frame. The placing of the caseon the frame trips a switch (not shown) which causes the pistons 25 tolower the carrier heads 13. At the bottom of the piston stroke, theinserts 14 above the pick-up station A are located within the necks 17of the bottles 16 to be loaded. The operator then releases the case onthe frame and begins to assemble the next case. At the same time acontrol valve is actuated casuing the inserts 14 in the bottles or thelike at the pick-up station A to be inflated, whilst the inserts 14 onthe other carrier head are deflated thereby releasing the bottles 16which have now been deposited in the case 27. The case 27 on the frame28 is then lowered through the discharge roll-conveyor depositing thecase 27 on the roll-conveyor 24 and when the case has cleared, the framereturns to its position above the conveyor.

Simultaneously with the return of the frame 28, the carrier heads areraised, the one above the pick-up station A lifting bottles on theinserts 14, and when the carrier head pistons 25 are fully raised aswitch is actuated causing the arm 10 to rotate through an angle of 180thereby locating the bottles above the loading station B. The operatorthen places a case 27 to be filled on the frame 28 and this actuates theswitch to lower the carrier heads as aforesaid. At the bottom of thepiston stroke the inserts in the bottles (now in the case), are deflatedwhilst the inserts on the carrier head at the pick-up station A aresimultaneously inflated to pickup another set of articles.

A stop may be provided on the feed conveyor to arrest and locate bottlesat the pick-up station. The pivoting speed of the arm may also beadjusted to exceed the speed of oncoming bottles so that there is nobanking up of bottles to be loaded.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for packing containers having openings therein into cases,comprising a horizontal arm pivoted centrally about a vertical shaftwhereas to be capable of moving through an angle of at least 180,whereby containers may be transferred from a pick-up station to a caseloading station, a container carrier at each end of said arm, each saidcarrier comprising a plurality of inflatible inserts adapted to engageinside the opening of the containers, and means associated with eachinsert for inflating and deflating said insert in timed relationshipwith the operation of picking-up said containers from said pick-upstation and depositing them at said case loading station, said insertbeing substantially balloon shaped and each having a reduced diameterneck portion and a lower enlarged diameter containerengaging portionwherein said container-engaging portion is of slightly smaller diameterat its widest point than the internal diameter of the opening ofacontainer when the insert is deflated, each said insert being open atthe top to communicate with an air supply for inflating and deflatingsaid insert, wherein each said insert is flared outwardly at the top toprovide a flange which is adapted to be engaged by a retaining ringwhereby said insert is adapted to be held in air-tight engagement with aconnector for the air supply.

2. Apparatus for packing containers having openings therein into cases,comprising conveyor means for delivering containers to a pick-up stationand second conveyor means for disposing of loaded cases from a loadingstation, a container carrier arm pivotal about a vertical shaft througha full circle in two movements each of 180 whereby containers may betransferred from said pick-up station to said loading station; acontainer carrier head on each end of said carrier arm, each said headcomrising a frame having a plurality of inflatible inserts mounted onthe underside thereof and an air connection to each of said insertswhereby they may be inflated and evacuated to pick-up or deposit acontainer, said inflation and evacuation being controlled by valve meansactuated in timed relationship with the carrier arm; each said carrierhead frame being mounted on a vertically operable piston whereby saidframe may be raised and lowered to deposit them in a case to be packedsaid loading station, each said insert being substantially balloonshaped and having a reduced diameter neck portion and a lower enlargeddiameter container-engaging portion wherein said container-engagingportion is of slightly smaller diameter at its widest point then theinternal diameter of the opening of a container when the insert isdeflated, and mounting means for releasibly mounting said inflatibleinserts on the underside of said frame, whereby differently sizedinserts are utilized for correspondingly different sized containers.

3. An inflatable insert adapted to engage the inside neck portion ofacontainer whereby the container may be picked-up from a pick-up stationand transferred to a case loading station, said insert beingsubstantially balloon shaped and having a reduced diameter neck portionand a lower enlarged diameter containerengaging portion wherein saidcontainer-engaging portion is sized to be of slightly smaller diameterat its widest point than the internal diameter of the neck of acontainer which is to be picked-up when said insert is deflated, saidinsert being open at the top and flared outwardly at the top to providea flange whereby said insert may be engaged by a collar to sealinglyattach said insert to a bottle carrier frame, said insert beinginflatable whereby when inflated it firmly engages the inside neckportion of a container to provide a container carrying member, and whenevacuated is sized to be slidingly inserted into or retracted from theinside neck portion of the container.

1. Apparatus for packing containers having openings therein into cases,comprising a horizontal arm pivoted centrally about a vertical shaftwhereas to be capable of moving through an angle of at least 180*,whereby containers may be transferred from a pick-up station to a caseloading station, a container carrier at each end of said arm, each saidcarrier comprising a plurality of inflatible inserts adapted to engageinside the opening of the containers, and means associated with eachinsert for inflating and deflating said insert in timed relationshipwith the operation of picking-up said containers from said pick-upstation and depositing them at said case loading station, said insertbeing substantially balloon shaped and each having a reduced diameterneck portion and a lower enlarged diameter containerengaging portionwherein said container-engaging portion is of slightly smaller diameterat its widest point than the internal diameter of the opening of acontainer when the insert is deflated, each said insert being open atthe top to communicate with an air supply for inflating and deflatingsaid insert, wherein each said insert is flared outwardly at the top toprovide a flange which is adapted to be engaged by a retaining ringwhereby said insert is adapted to be held in air-tight engagement with aconnector for the air supply.
 2. Apparatus for packing containers havingopenings therein into cases, comprising conveyor means for deliveringcontainers to a pick-up station and second conveyor means for disposingof loaded cases from a loading station, a container carrier arm pivotalabout a vertical shaft through a full circle in two movements each of180* whereby containers may be transferred from said pick-up station tosaid loading station; a container carrier head on each end of saidcarrier arm, each said head comrising a frame having a plurality ofinflatible inserts mounted on the underside thereof and an airconnection to each of said inserts whereby they may be inflated andevacuated to pick-up or deposit a container, said inflation andevacuation being controlled by valve means actuated in timedrelationship with the carrier arm; each said carrier head frame beingmounted on a vertically operable piston whereby said frame may be raisedand lowered to deposit them in a case to be packed said loading station,each said insert being substantially balloon shaped and having a reduceddiameter neck portion and a lower enlarged diameter container-engagingportion wherein said container-engaging portion is of slightly smallerdiameter at its widest point then the internal diameter of the openingof a container when the insert is deflated, and mounting means forreleasibly mounting said inflatiblE inserts on the underside of saidframe, whereby differently sized inserts are utilized forcorrespondingly different sized containers.
 3. An inflatable insertadapted to engage the inside neck portion of a container whereby thecontainer may be picked-up from a pick-up station and transferred to acase loading station, said insert being substantially balloon shaped andhaving a reduced diameter neck portion and a lower enlarged diametercontainer-engaging portion wherein said container-engaging portion issized to be of slightly smaller diameter at its widest point than theinternal diameter of the neck of a container which is to be picked-upwhen said insert is deflated, said insert being open at the top andflared outwardly at the top to provide a flange whereby said insert maybe engaged by a collar to sealingly attach said insert to a bottlecarrier frame, said insert being inflatable whereby when inflated itfirmly engages the inside neck portion of a container to provide acontainer carrying member, and when evacuated is sized to be slidinglyinserted into or retracted from the inside neck portion of thecontainer.